Lebanon Timeline

France, granted the mandate for Lebanon and Syria by the League of Nations, forms the State of Greater Lebanon.

Lebanon proclaims its independence from France on Nov. 26, 1941.

The French relinquish their remaining control over Lebanon on Nov. 22. That day is celebrated as Lebanon's independence day.

Lebanon becomes truly dependent on Jan. 1, 1944.

Israel declared a state. Palestinian refugees begin arriving in Lebanon.

Palestinians operating from Lebanon attack Israel, provoking periodic retaliation.

Fighting breaks out between Palestinian commandos and Lebanese army over Lebanese threats to curb Palestinian activities in Lebanon.

Lebanon erupts in civil war between Christians, Muslims, and Palestinians.

Syrian troops enter Lebanon to stop the civil war.

First Israeli invasion in response to attacks from PLO and other groups operating within Lebanon.

Second Israeli invasion. Multinational peacekeeping force including U.S. troops arrives in Beirut.

241 U.S. Marines and 60 French soldiers killed when a truck filled with military explosives was driven into their compound.

Israel withdraws from most of Lebanon, and establishes a buffer zone in the south.

The civil war is declared over on Oct. 13. With Syrian help the Lebanese government reestablishes control over much of the country.

With the occupation increasingly controversial at home, Israel withdraws from the buffer zone. U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan wants to increase the number of U.N. peacekeeping troops in Lebanon.

In the summer, Syria withdraws nearly all of its 25,000 troops from Beirut and surrounding areas. But 20,000 troops, remain in the countryside.

In a stark reminder of Syria's continuing iron grip in Lebanon, Syria insists that President Lahoud, whom it had selected for the country, remain in office beyond the constitutional limit of one six-year term. Despite general Lebanese outrage, the Lebanese parliament did Syria's bidding, permiting Lahoud to serve for three more years.

A Security Council resolution asks Syria to remove the troops it has stationed in Lebanon for the past 28 years. Syria responded by moving about 3,000 troops from the vicinity of Beirut to eastern Lebanon, a gesture that was viewed by many as merely cosmetic.

As a result of September's constitutional crisis and Lebanon's accession to Syrian demands, Prime Minister Rafik Hariri resigns.

Former prime minister Rafik Hariri—a nationalist who had called for Syria's withdrawal from Lebanon—is assassinated on Feb. 14.

Two weeks of protests ensue, calling for Syria's withdrawal.

On Feb. 28, pro-Syrian prime minister Omar Karami resigns.

On March 8, the militant group Hezbollah sponsored a massive pro-Syrian demonstration that greatly outnumbered previous anti-Syrian protests. Hundreds of thousands gathered to thank Syria for its involvement in Lebanon.

On March 9, buoyed by the pro-Syrian demonstrations, President Lahoud reappoints Omar Karami as prime minister.

On the one-month anniversary of Hariri's death, March 14, anti-Syrian protestors stage the largest rally yet, with about 1 million protesting.

On March 17, Syria withdraws 4,000 troops, and redeploys the remaining 10,000 to Lebanon's Bekaa Valley, which borders Syria. In April, Syria says it will set a date for the full withdrawal.

Omar Karami resigns a second time after failing to form a government.

Lebanon's new prime minister, Najib Mikati, a compromise candidate between the pro-Syrian and anti-Syrian groups, announces that new elections will be held in May.

On April 26, after 29 years of occupation, Syria withdrew all of its troops.

Syria holds four rounds of parliamentary elections. An anti-Syrian alliance led by Saad al-Hariri, the 35-year-old son of assassinated former prime minister leader Rafik Hariri, won 72 out of 128 seats. Former finance minister Fouad Siniora, who was closely associated with Hariri, eventually becomes prime minister.

On Sept. 1, four are charged in the murder of Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri. The commander of Lebanon's Republican Guard, the former head of general security, the former chief of Lebanon's police, and the former military intelligence officer are indicted for the February assassination.

On Oct. 20, the UN releases a report on Hariri's slaying, concluding that the assassination was carefully organized by Syrian and Lebanese intelligence officials, including Syria's military intelligence chief, Asef Shawkat, who is the brother-in-law of Syrian president Bashar Assad.

Hezbollah, under the leadership of Sheik Hassan Nasrallah, enters Israel and captures two Israeli soldiers on July 12. In response, Israel launches a major military attack, bombing the Lebanese airport and parts of southern Lebanon. Hezbollah retaliates by launching hundreds of rockets and missles—believed to have been supplied by Syria and Iran—into Israel.

On July 18, an Israeli general indicates that Israel's offensive in Lebanon would last several more weeks, until Hezbollah is routed. About 25 Israelis and 230 Lebanese have been killed in the fighting.

On August 14, a UN-negotiated cease-fire between Israel and Lebanon goes into effect. About 1,150 Lebanese, mostly civilians, and 150 Israelis, mostly soldiers, have died in the 34 days of fighting. Although much of the international community had been demanding a cease-fire since the beginning of the conflict, the United States supported Israel's plan to continue its offensive in the hopes of draining Hezbollah of its military power, and did little to expedite the cease-fire negotiations. Hezbollah, thought to have at least 12,000 rockets and missiles, most supplied by Iran, proved a more formidable foe than anticipated.

On Nov. 21, Pierre Gemayel, minister of industry and member of a well-known Maronite Christian political dynasty, is assassinated, the fifth anti-Syrian leader to be killed since the death of Rafik Hariri in Feb. 2005. Pro-government protestors blame Syria and its Lebanese allies for the assassination, and stage large demonstrations.

November's pro-government demonstrations are followed by even larger and more sustained anti-government, pro-Hezbollah demonstrations beginning Dec. 1. Tens of thousands of protestors, led by the Hezbollah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah, occupy the center of Beirut and call for the resignation of the pro-Western coalition government.

A commission that investigated 2006's war between Israel and Lebanon releases a scathing report, saying Israeli prime minister Olmert was responsible for "a severe failure in exercising judgment, responsibility, and prudence." It also said that Olmert rushed to war without an adequate plan.

Anti-Syrian member of Parliament Walid Eido is killed in a bombing in Beirut.

Another anti-Syrian lawmaker, Antoine Ghanem of the Christian Phalange Party, which is part of the governing coalition, is assassinated. Hezbollah legislators boycott the session of Parliament at which lawmakers were to vote on a new president. The Hezbollah faction, which is pro-Syria, wants the anti-Syrian governing coalition to put forward a compromise candidate. Parliament adjourns the session and reschedules elections.

A caretaker government, led by Prime Minister Fouad Siniroa, assumes power after President Émile Lahoud's term expires and Parliament for the fourth time postpones a vote on his successor.

The Winograd Commission releases its final report on Israel's 2006 war against Hezbollah in Lebanon. It calls the operation a "large and serious" failure and criticizes the country's leadership for failing to have an exit strategy in place before the invasion began. Prime Minister Olmert is spared somewhat, as the commission said that in ordering the invasion, he was acting in "the interest of the state of Israel."

Parliament elects Suleiman as president, filling the position that had been vacant since November 2007.

Lebanon and Syria establish full diplomatic relations for the first time since both countries gained independence from France in 1943.

An international court at The Hague is set up to investigate the 2005 assassination of former prime minister Rafik Hariri. In May the court freed four pro-Syrian generals who had been linked to the murder, claiming it lacked evidence to convict them.

In parliamentary elections, the March 14 coalition, led by Saad Hariri, retains its majority in Parliament by taking 71 of 128 seats. The Hezbollah-led March 8 coalition wins 57 seats.

In parliamentary elections, the March 14 coalition, led by Saad Hariri, retains its majority in Parliament by taking 71 of 128 seats. The Hezbollah-led March 8 coalition wins 57 seats.

Lebanon's government falls apart when Hezbollah's ministers resigned from the cabinet to protest Prime Minister Hariri's refusal to reject the UN tribunal investigating the 2005 assassination of Rafik Hariri. Two weeks later, Hezbollah wins enough support in Parliament to form a new government with Najib Mikati, a billionaire businessman, as prime minister. Mikati, a Sunni and former prime minister, said even though he was backed by Hezbollah, he will govern as an independent.

Mikati assembles a cabinet with 16 out of 30 seats going to Hezbollah and its allies.

The UN's Special Tribunal for Lebanon issues arrest warrants for four high-ranking members of Hezbollah in connection wtih the murder of Hariri and 21 others. Hezbollah refuses to turn the suspects over to authorities.